Hurricane Rafael grows into a Category 2 storm as it bears down on Cuba

San Juan, Puerto Rico — Hurricane Rafael swelled into a Category 2 large wind early Wednesday arsenic it swirled past nan Cayman Islands, and it was forecast to quickly intensify earlier making landfall later successful nan time successful occidental Cuba. It was different changeable of bad news for Cuba, which has been struggling pinch blackouts while recovering from different hurricane 2 weeks agone that killed astatine slightest six group successful nan eastbound portion of nan island.

The large wind was located astir 90 miles east-southeast of nan Isle of Youth, and astir 160 miles south-southeast of Havana arsenic of 7 a.m. Eastern connected Wednesday. Packing maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, Rafael had go a Category 2 storm. 

It was moving northwest astatine 14 mph, according to nan National Hurricane Center successful Miami. Forecasters warned that Rafael was expected to slam into Cuba connected Wednesday aft dumping rainfall connected Jamaica and nan Cayman Islands connected Tuesday. The halfway warned of floods, large wind surges and mudslides.

A representation provided by nan National Hurricane Center shows nan forecast way of Hurricane Rafael successful nan Caribbean, arsenic of 7 a.m. Eastern connected Nov. 6, 2024. NOAA/National Hurricane Center

The U.S. State Department issued an advisory for Cuba connected Tuesday afternoon, offering departure flights to non-essential unit and American citizens, and advising others to "reconsider recreation to Cuba owed to nan imaginable effect of Tropical Storm Rafael," earlier nan large wind grew into a hurricane.

On Tuesday morning, nan Cuban Civil Defense called connected Cubans to hole arsenic soon arsenic possible, because erstwhile nan large wind makes landfall "it's important to enactment wherever you are." The time before, authorities said they had issued an removal bid for 37,000 group successful acold eastbound Cuba, successful nan state of Guantanamo, owed to bad weather.

A hurricane informing that had been successful effect Tuesday for nan Cayman Islands was dropped for nan biggest of nan islands Wednesday. The measurement remained successful effect for Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, on pinch nan Cuban provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, and nan Isle of Youth.

A composite outer image provided by nan National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Rafael churning conscionable southbound of Cuba successful nan Caribbean connected Nov. 6, 2024 astatine astir 7 a.m. Eastern. NOAA/National Hurricane Center

A tropical large wind informing was successful effect for a fistful of different Cuban provinces, arsenic good arsenic nan little and mediate Florida Keys from Key West to westbound of nan Channel 5 Bridge, and Dry Tortugas. The informing was lifted successful Jamaica aft nan large wind passed by nan occidental coast.  

Rafael connected Tuesday knocked retired powerfulness successful Jamaica and unleashed flooding and landslides.

The Jamaica Public Service, nan island's energy provider, said successful a connection precocious Tuesday that impassable roads were preventing crews from restoring powerfulness successful immoderate areas.

Meanwhile, crews successful Little Cayman and Cayman Brac were expected to instrumentality retired early Wednesday to measure harm aft a nonstop deed precocious Tuesday. Power outages were reported crossed nan Cayman Islands, and schools remained closed connected Wednesday.

"While conditions person improved connected Grand Cayman, residents are advised to workout utmost be aware connected nan roads and adjacent coastlines arsenic unsmooth seas and residual flooding risks whitethorn persist," nan authorities said successful a statement.

Forecasters warned Rafael would unleash dense rains crossed nan occidental Caribbean that could lead to flooding and mudslides successful parts of Cuba and nan Cayman Islands.

A man useful to unafraid nan tile of his location up of nan presence of Hurricane Rafael, successful Guanimar, Artemisa province, Cuba, Nov. 5, 2024. YAMIL LAGE/AFP/Getty

Heavy rainfall besides was expected to dispersed northbound into Florida and adjacent areas of nan southeast U.S. during nan mediate to precocious portion of nan week. The Hurricane Center predicted large wind surges successful Florida could scope 1 to 3 feet successful Dry Tortugas and 1 to 2 feet successful nan Lower Florida Keys. A fewer tornadoes besides were expected Wednesday complete nan Keys and southwestern Florida.

Rafael is nan 17th named large wind of nan season.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted nan 2024 hurricane play was apt to beryllium good supra average, pinch betwixt 17 and 25 named storms. The forecast called for arsenic galore arsenic 13 hurricanes and 4 awesome hurricanes.

An mean Atlantic hurricane play produces 14 named storms, 7 of them hurricanes and 3 awesome hurricanes.

In:
• Caribbean
• Cuba
• Gulf of Mexico
• Severe Weather
• Jamaica
• Florida
• Hurricane